Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-03-24
- - s777a- =
AUDITOR WALKER.
Report of the Committee Appointed by
the House of Representatives to Investi-
gate the Alleged Irregularities OF State
Auditor Walker.

the House of Representatives to Investf-
gate the Alleged Irregularities OF State
Auditor Walker.
The committee appointed by the House
of Representatives to investigate the
charges against Hon. John Walker, State
Auditor, submitted the following report
to the House as the result of their in
quiries:
Concerning the first charge contained in the
resolution under which the committee was ap-
pointed, that Auditor Walker appointed
Charles A. Pollock clerk in his ONCE IN consid-
Grafton of Pollock's turning to him fifty dollars
per month of his salary" the committee report
that 1t has been unable to find any witness,
other than Mr.. Charles A. Pollock and Mr.. John
Walker, who has any personal knowledge as to
whether or not Mr.. Walker required or received
of Mr.. Charles A. Pollock any money in consid-
Grafton or upon account OF the appointment of
Mr. Pollock to a clerkship in the office Of State
Auditor
1T further appears from the testimony of
several witnesses that Mr.. Pollock, at various
times, in the absence of Mr.. Walker told that
Mr. Walker had so required and received
money of him. The testimony of Mr.. Pollock
is that Mr.. Walker did SO require and receive
money of him, and in support thereof he pro-
duced certain papers having thereon, in the
handwriting of Mr.. Walker Endorsements
winch, while in themselves having no definite
application to the charge under consideration,
yet are consistent with and to some extent may
be said to corroborate Mr.. Pollock's testimony.
The testimony of Mr.. Walker is in direct oppo-
sition to that of Mr.. Pollock as to every matter
material to this inquiry, and he explains the
sal Endorsements in a manner con siStent with
his innocence"
The testimony of third persons to state
ments made to them in Mr.. Walkers absence,
or any evidence showing his acquiescence in
them, is considered not competent under the
rules of law governing the admissibility of evil
dnnra pnl1ocly-C evidence hpinp a
involved in inconsistence and contradicted to
such an extent that it is decided insufficient to
support the charge
THE TURNER CHARGE
The second charge, that Mr.. Walker ire
quired James A. Turner, late secretary OF the
Board of Equalization, to contribute sum of
money sufficient to buy horse, saddle and
bride" for the use of one of Mr.. Walkers
sons. is declared not sustained as made. The
evidence shows that Mr.. Turner solicited Mr..
Walker to vote for him as secretary of the
Board of Equalization; that Mr.. Walker
agreed to do so, and shortly afterward told Mr..
Turner that he had a nephew who was an
applicant for the position that he had prom
ised him present Of a watch and chain, but
not feeling able to bear the expense of it alone,
he asked Mr. Turner if he would be able to
spare something toward it. After thinking
minute Mr.. Turner replied that he thought that
he would. Then the matter dropped, and after
ward, when Mr.. Turner alluded to it, Mr.. Walk
er told him to never mind as he had purchased
the present. Mr.. Turner never paid any money
to Mr.. Walker for this purpose. Mr.. Walker
made a complete denial which raises ques-
ton Of veracity between himself and Mr.. Tur-
ner. Evidence was also before the committee
to the effect that Mr. Turner told several part
les that Mr.. Walker had made such demand
upon him, but this hearsay evidence is not con-
sidered as competent. Adopting the rule that a
preponderance of evidence is necessary to sup
port an accusation of the kind, the committee,
while not passing upon the question Of veracity
between Mr.. Turner and Mr.. Walker, find Mr..
Turner's charges mot proven"
THE HANNIBAL & ST. JOSEPH MATTER.
The committee also finds that the third
charge that Mr.. Walker proposed TO secure
for Hon. D. H. Mcintyre the office OF special
counsel in the Hannibal & ST. Joseph railroad
case in consideration of said Mcintyre purchas-
ing his (Walkers) residence" is not sustained
by the evidence. The evidence goes to show
that Mr.. Mcintyre asked Mr.. Walker to vote
for him as such special counsel, and that Mr..
Walker said he would do so, and that in con-
nection with the conversation upon this SUBJ
ject he inquired of General Mcintyre If he con-
templated remaining permanently in Jefferson
City, and that if he did he would like to sell
him his residence. Mr.. Walker further re-
marked that it Mr.. Mcintyre got that place IRE
ferring to the position of special counsel
above mentioned), he could get "fat
fee" The conclusion of the committee
w
ton was made in such clbse connec-
ton with the matter of the appointment of
General Mcintyre as special eGTsnsel as to Of
fend delicate sense of propriety. yetit was not
made in the nature of bride as an indica-
ton that the appointment was contingent upon
it's acceptance. They find further that Hon.
Waldo P. johnson was appointed as such
special counsel through efforts his behalf of
Attorney General Boone, to whose opposition
the defeat of General Mcintyre is attributed.
THE HOUCK MATTER.
The charge that Mr.. Walker agreed to accept
81 600 from Louis Houck and certain citizens of
Cape Girardeau, and to vote for the location of
the proposed branch penitentiary at that place,
is also pronounced not to be sustained by the
evidence. The testimony shows that Mr..
Houck. thinking that Colonel James r. Willis
might be able to influence Mr.. Walker in favor
of Cape Girardeau, agreed to pay Willis $500
to secure the location there. There is no evil
dence to show that Mr.. Walker, at the time of
voting for Cape Girardeau, knew of this agree
ment between Houck and Willis.
INTERESTED IN CONVICT LABOR.
The charge that 'ssaid Walker interested
in convict labor by reason of an alleged inter-
est in the Standard Shoe Company, engaged in
the shoe business at the penitentiary,' is found
to be sustained by the evidence. After giving
history of the company and its contract with
the State previous to Mr.. Walkers connection
Herewith, the report of the committee goes ON
piled to Mr. Walker to put money in the Stand
ard Shoe Company, representing that the COM
pany had a good contract but did not have
money enough as capital to run the business
successfully, and with about $4,000 added,
making the capital stock $50 900, he conf
IDENTIFY hoped to make it success, but that if that
was not done, and that Immediately, the Stand
ard Shoe Company would go to protest Oh its
paper. That about the time Mr.. Priesmeyer
so applied to Mr.. Walker. he in like manner
applied and made similar representations to
Mr.. H. B. Church and to Mr.. A. M Beckers,
both of Jefferson City; that being SO applied
to by Mr.. Presmeyer, Mr.. Walker, Mr.. Church
and Mr.. BeckerS each concluded to put S. 600
into the stock of the Standard Shoe Company,
and did each put 5000 into the stock of said
company. that Its capital stock was raised
from $4,000 to $4,000. That for the purpose of
putting his s., 900 into the Standard Shoe Com
pany without taking out any stock of said COM
pany in his own name, Mr.. Walker. about the
18th of June, 1884 went with Mr. Priesmeyer to
the place of business OF Mr. II. B. Church, in
Jefferson City, told him Church. of his will
ingness to put money in the Standard Shoe
Company, and proposed to MIR. Church to
make him his agent to put the money
in the stock, manage it and turn
over the earnings, if any, to him,
and drew up and requested Mr.. Church to sign
a note to him for the amount he contemplated
investing in said stock in the name OF Mr..
Church.
HOLDING STOCK IN TRUST. -
Mr.. Church refused to sign any note for the
money: that Mr.. Walker drew an instrumente
as follows:
Received of John Walker s., 600, for the use of
which agree to pay him one-half of one-third
of the annual dividend of the Standard Shoe
Company of Cole County, Missouri. 1 agree to
use the money for sto k at par in the said COM
pany, the amount of stock being $4,000. I
hereby further agree to hold the said stock pur-
chased with the ZOO in trust for said John
Walker and to transfer the stock to the order